CHAPTER330
“You look sexy as hell. I’m not sure about leaving you in that bar for an hour. This was dumb.” He rakes a hand through my hair, catching it in his fist and giving it a little pull to bring my mouth to him for a gentle kiss.
“Leila will smell a rat if you’re all there when we walk in. I want her to loosen up a little so give us time to talk before you two come crashing in.” I’m trying to be patient with him tonight, his jealous and protective side is wanting to dominate but his loving side is trying to give me a little space. He is visually struggling with himself.
“Then you should’ve let me arrange a quiet club. Less people, less chance of someone knocking into you and—”
“Stop.” I lean up and kiss him. Jake’s heart is thudding, and the way he keeps rubbing his hands on his jeans tells me he’s on the verge of a panic attack. He’s turned into a complete contradiction of who he normally is over this, like our proposal night all over again, and it melts me. He’s been sweating rivers since we arranged this little Operation, at the thought of me being be out in the big old world without his constant protection and I giggle at the thought.
“I’ll be fine, we’re going to get a corner seat, ply her with cocktails, and just talk. It’s a weekday, the place will be quiet, no real party animals on a Tuesday night, Jake. Just people meeting for drinks.” I’m trying to soothe away the face that has come over him, furrowed brow, infamous Carrero glare and touch of childish pouting. My heart softens to goo.
“An hour though? I’ll go out of my mind. Maybe if Mathews sat …” He’s close to pacing again, like he was before, a frantic wild-eyed look draining over his face.
“No. Stop. Seriously.” I take both of his hands and pull them to my waist, he follows obediently.
“Trust me to take care of myself. I was doing it long before I had you. You on the other hand … I’m not sure you can be trusted out with Daniel Hunter, there’s a lot of things you two could get up to in an hour.” I point out and his face crumbles.
“You know I never would again, Emma … You know...” Again, with the panic-stricken expression. I silence him with a kiss.
“Trust,” I say slowly and deliberately with two raised eyebrows and he sags with defeat. That green-eyed glare is turbulent, but he’s resigned to the fact that this is happening. Realizing that trust is a two-way thing and he wants me to trust him more than anything in the world.
“Keep your cell out. We’re going to a bar that’s close, really close so if you need me sooner, I’ll be there.” He raises an eyebrow at me in finality.
I sigh at him then kiss his cheek indulgently before moving off to finish getting ready. He sighs heavily as he goes to the wardrobe to fish out his usual black shirt and jeans for a night out. I know this isn’t easy for him, the thought of not being there to look after me, but he needs to let this go. He trusts Nora and Mathews to take care of me here in the city, and he trusts Sylvana and her staff to tend my every need when in the Hamptons, so now he needs to trust that I can take care of myself when out with my girls … when out anywhere in general really. He needs to learn this, or my life is going to be almost impossible with him in the future.
“Don’t come until I text you. That’s the deal. If Leila is still too hostile, then it won’t go well, so let us talk her round first. Promise me, Jake.” I turn toward him with my most efficient PA Emma tone, the one that used to get him to behave. He tenses his jaw as he stares into his wardrobe mulling over his response.
“You have an hour, max, if no text after an hour, then we’re coming.” He grits his teeth and I find myself eye rolling. I’m not in the mood to keep this going. I’ll have to play it by ear and hope I can deter the force that is Carrero from turning into a cyclone in that bar if he tries to enter before I need him.
“Stop glaring at your clothes and come over here and help me with my necklace.” I smile at him, a tad happier as I catch that naughty look wash over his face. I’m in for some serious groping, before Jefferson takes me to meet the girls; no doubt of that."
